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Menthae Haplocalycis Herba (Bohe, 薄荷), with pungent and bitter tastes, is warm in nature. Its action floats upward, belonging to Yang. It is non-toxic. It enters the Lung Meridian and Pericardium Meridian, and can also enter the Liver Meridian and Gallbladder Meridian. It directs Qi downward, treats abdominal distension and fullness caused by cold Qi, resolves stagnation due to Wind pathogen, and is good at guiding other herbs into the Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) levels. It can also reduce fever. However, while dispersing pathogens, it consumes Qi. Like Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), it has the wonderful effect of resolving conflicts (harmonizing the exterior and interior). Yet, people only know to use Chaihu and do not know Bohe, because Bohe is often added to pastries and cakes; they despise it, thinking it is not needed in medicine. They do not know that the ancients added it to pastries precisely to benefit the Liver and harmonize the Stomach. Moreover, the actual functions of Bohe are truly remarkable. Only did predecessors claim it could relieve bone-steaming heat and resolve fatigue-induced exhaustion, which was somewhat exaggerated. I once encountered a person who had contracted external pathogens and suffered from Qi stagnation, who refused to take medicine. I advised him to drink Bohe-Ju Tea, and he recovered immediately. The prescription uses one qian of Bohe, one qian of tea leaves, and one qian of Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). Brew with boiling water to make a large bowl and drink. I record this to demonstrate the miraculous efficacy of Bohe.

Someone asked: "Bohe seems quite ordinary, yet you praise it so highly. Is its efficacy really as effective as you say?" I replied: "I understand the true nature of Bohe. Bohe is not only good at resolving Wind pathogens, but especially good at resolving depression (emotional stagnation). Using Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) to resolve depression is not as miraculous as using Bohe."

Someone asked: "Did the ancients use Bohe to resolve Wind pathogen stagnation?" In the past, Zhang Zhongjing used it to treat diseases where Heat entered the Blood Chamber (Xue Shi), and also used it to treat symptoms of chest and abdominal distension and fullness. You were simply unaware of this. Bohe enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians and is good at resolving pathogens in the Shaoyang stage (half-exterior, half-interior), being lighter and clearer than Chaihu. Wood needs wind to grow smoothly and freely. Bohe disperses Wind, and its nature belongs to Wind, representing the gentle breeze of spring. Gentle breeze is what Wood delights in. Therefore, upon receiving the Qi of Bohe, the Heat in the Liver dissipates unknowingly, and the Qi in the Gallbladder transforms unknowingly. People despise Bohe and fail to recognize its functions, which is truly lamentable.

Elsholtziae Herba (Xiangru, 香薷), with a pungent taste and slightly warm nature, is non-toxic. It enters the Spleen, Stomach, Heart, and Lung meridians. It primarily treats Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome with vomiting and diarrhea), colicky pain in the epigastrium, and is miraculous in treating Summerheat injury. It promotes urination, dissipates edema, removes bad breath, resolves Heat and relieves irritability, regulates the Middle Jiao and warms the Stomach. It has the function of penetrating from top to bottom and the wonder of restoring order from chaos, enabling Clear Qi to ascend and Turbid Qi to descend. However, it should be drunk cold (chilled) and not hot; it should be used in small doses, not large ones. A small dose assists Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) to expel pathogens; a large dose aids pathogens and consumes Zheng Qi. Drinking it chilled follows the pathogen to resolve Summerheat; drinking it hot rejects the pathogen and causes gridlock of Heat. This is something those who use Xiangru should know.

Someone asked: "Xiangru resolves Summerheat. If there is Summerheat, it should be resolvable. Why does it work in some cases but not others? Is it due to excessive use or hot drinking?" Indeed, hot drinking and excessive use of Xiangru make it difficult to see effects. However, even when drunk chilled and used in small doses, it may still be ineffective. This is because Xiangru can only disperse the pathogenic factor of Summerheat, but cannot supplement the deficiency of Zheng Qi. When Zheng Qi is deficient, Summerheat pathogen invades. If one dispels Summerheat without tonifying Zheng Qi, how can it be effective? Therefore, in Xiangru Yin (Decoction), it is advisable to add more Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma).

Someone doubts: "If dispelling Summerheat requires tonifying Zheng Qi, but there are cases where tonifying Zheng Qi to dispel Summerheat makes the Summerheat pathogen more intense, does this mean Xiangru should not be used? Or that Zheng Qi should not be tonified?" I say: Tonifying Zheng Qi to expel pathogens is the King's Way (Wangdao); expelling pathogens alone without tonifying Zheng Qi is the Hegemon's Way (Badao). Tonifying Zheng Qi more than expelling pathogens is the pure King's Way; expelling pathogens more than tonifying Zheng Qi is the cunning Hegemon's Way. Those who dare only to tonify Zheng Qi but not expel pathogens have misunderstood the King's Way; those who expel pathogens and dare to drain Zheng Qi are cruel practitioners of the Hegemon's Way. All six of these approaches can remove Summerheat. Now, saying that tonifying Zheng Qi to dispel Summerheat is a method combining King's and Hegemon's ways. How can there be unresolved Summerheat, leading to the suspicion that Summerheat pathogen becomes more intense and thus questioning whether Zheng Qi can be tonified? Using Xiangru within the context of tonifying Zheng Qi is an unchangeable principle for all time.

Someone asks: "When using Xiangru to tonify Zheng Qi, should the dose be large or small?" I say: For resolving Summerheat, in cases of Summerheat syndrome, it is appropriate to use Xiangru as the Jun (Emperor) herb, using a larger dose. If Yuan Qi (Original Qi) is inherently deficient, it is appropriate to use Xiangru as the Chen (Minister) herb, using herbs that tonify Qi as the Jun herb. If Yuan Qi is severely deficient, Xiangru should not be used as the Chen herb, but rather as the Shi (Envoy) herb, added in very small amounts. Ultimately, it depends on the physician's skillful application during clinical practice.

Someone suspects: "Does Xiangru have no other uses besides resolving Summerheat? Bencao (Materia Medica) claims many functions. Can this be trusted?" This certainly cannot be fully believed. However, Summerheat syndromes are diverse. Whenever diseases occur simultaneously with Summerheat syndrome, if Xiangru can treat them, one cannot say that Xiangru has no other uses outside of resolving Summerheat.